Reflecting on 2016 and 2017 Travel Goals

What travel goals did you manage in 2016? I achieved almost all of my 2016 goals!

I flew 119 times for business and pleasure last year with 20 airlines, rode 14 long distance trains plus a short cross-border train between Singapore and Malaysia, a few long distance buses and some hire car kilometres. My air flights were mostly concentrated in 14 countries in Asia, Australia/New Zealand and the Middle East with no European or US flights at all, as seen here:

Visit two new countries which I exceeded by going to Egypt, The Maldives, Philippines and Sri Lanka. This brings me to 64 countries I have visited in my life! My eventual aim is 99 nations visited -so 35 to go, God willing. It was amazing to finally see the Pyramids. Big tick on the bucket list. Not an easy place to travel but utterly fascinating. We fell in love with Sri Lanka and would happily re visit.

Fly the Airbus 350 which I sadly missed outwhen Thai Airways to get the plane certified by the Australian authorities following issues with the Thai aviation watchdog. I got a lovely 777 flight instead!

Oh, did I mention I got married in Wellington, New Zealand? 🙂

Other highlights were going to Uluru (Ayers Rock), running in a fun run in Hobart, Australia, catching up on good food in Singapore, enjoying Legoland Malaysia and spending Christmas in Bethlehem (picture below).

My other hope last year was to we see some sense globally with people seeking ways to create more peace and less violence in our world. This feels stuck with leaders seemingly focused on power, ego, and suspicion. I have never been more pessimistic for the world. I will still keep on travelling and hope to foster positive dialogues and relationships as I do.

How about your highlights and lowlights?

So for 2017:

Another two new countries-one of which will be Japan

To fly JAL to get to or from Japan, of course

To fly S7 which if I also fly JAL, will mean I have flown every One World carrier